Finavera Renewables Inc. has submitted environmental assessment (EA) applications for its 47 MW Tumbler Ridge and 77 MW Wildmare wind projects in British Columbia. The applications were delivered to the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) and include descriptions of the projects, summaries of the studies conducted to assess baseline conditions, and an analysis of potential direct and cumulative impacts relating to the construction and operation of the projects.

The Tumbler Ridge and Wildmare projects are two of the company's four projects that were each awarded 25-year power purchase agreements from BC Hydro in March. Tumbler Ridge and Wildmare are scheduled to begin construction in 2011 and operation in 2012.

Based on existing conditions and with the mitigation proposed, the projects are not expected to result in any significant impacts for the biophysical, social, heritage, economic and health components assessed for this application, according to the company. The final decision on impacts will be determined by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and the British Columbia Ministry of Energy and will be reflected in a decision to issue an EA certificate to the company for the projects.

The projects are currently in the application-screening stage (maximum 30 days). If the applications are deemed to be complete, they will enter the application-review stage (maximum 180 days).

The EA application for the company's 117 MW Meikle wind project is expected to be submitted to the EAO in spring 2011, and the application for the 60 MW Bullmoose wind project is scheduled to enter the EA process in 2012.

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